Spring brings colorful flowers, sunny days, and the drone of lawn mowers. But that's not all! Spring also signals the Caledonian Association members to kick our activity into high gear as we work through the list of things that must be competed in order to present a fun, high-quality, family-oriented day for those who enjoy community events and all things Scottish.
We welcome anyone who is willing to help in any capacity, for any amount of time, as we "get our ducks in a row" for the 2024 Athena Caledonian Games. Our group is currently made up of 13 folks who have committed anywhere from one to 30+ years to keep the Caledonian tradition alive and vibrant. Here's who you'll be joining if you choose to be a part of something that has stood the test of time since 1899.
Nick Seltmann, our president, schedules entertainment, works with businesses, and handles arrangements with the school district, City of Athena, and various other county and state organizations that issue permissions or provide needed services so we can offer the top-quality entertainments and events that make our gathering so exciting every year. Our secretary-treasurer, Kayla Durfee, manages the financial books and keeps our members and friends up-to-date on what the Association is doing.
Dale Hilding is our Scottish Clan liaison, and with his wife Mary Kay keeps in touch with the clan associations in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. Troy McGee is our liaison with the vehicle show organizers. Debbie Patton manages the Souvenir Booth and organizes the Kids' Games activities during the festival.
Alan Wernsing has organized and presented the Highland Athletic Competition for many years and always gives spectators and athletes an excellent afternoon's entertainment. Colleen Bagdon has been our parade organizer for a number of years as well as official Games photographer when she gets the chance. Michelle Kirby is our graphics designer, and we count on her ability to create posters and printed materials to bring attention to the Games.
Justin Durfee is our handyman and can be found in every place that needs a strong back during set-up and clean-up, and all times in between. Tim and Karen Albert provide the connections to companies that create our banners and signs, and they can be found placing (and taking down) signs and posters around town, especially during the week before and week after the Games.
And last, but not least, we must mention our beloved Sue Friese. Though she has pretty much retired from constant involvement in the day-to-day activities of the Association, she volunteers to find and write grant applications that provide a significant amount of the funding needed to keep the Games going. We consider her knowledge and expertise (30+ years of leading the Games) to be one of our most valuable assets.
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